Surface condenser.



Patented Dec. l7, 190i. H. A. GALLON.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

(Application filed Feb. 23, 1901.)

(No Model) THE Nonms PETERS co. moroumc. wnsmnm'ou, u. c

PATENT @FFIQEQ- HARRY A. GALLON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO KNIGHT AND JILLSONCOMPANY,

CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A

SURFACE CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,037, dated December17, 1901.

Application filed February 23, 1901. Sofia] No. 48,465. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY A. GALLON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Surface Condensers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in surfacecondensers,

1o hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

The object of my invention is to provide a means of connecting the endsof the tubes of surface condensers to their headers so as to beremovable independently of each other and also be capable of beingdisconnected singly without disconnecting any of the other tubes; also,to provide a yielding means of connecting said pipes or tubes to saidheadeo ers, whereby said pipes or tubes will be permitted to freelyexpand or contract in a longitudinal direction when subjected tovariations of temperature or subjected to unequal temperatures; also, toprovide means whereby the cooling-surface of the tubes of the condenserwill not only be increased, but rendered more effective. I attain theseobjects by means of the apparatus illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which similar numerals of reference designate like partsthroughout the several views.

Figure 1 is an elevational side view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a planview of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail broken-off sectional planview of the headers and the conmeeting-tubes thereof and taken throughthe line AB. (See Fig. 1.) Fig. 4. is an enlarged broken off detail viewof a portion of a header, showing the packing-gland of the tube thereof;and Fig. 5 shows enlarged broken-0d plan and elevational views of thedown-spout for carrying off the Waste or circulating water.

The condenser consists of a series of pipes or tubes 2, which incloseand surround the internal tubes 3 to form a fluid-circulating spacebetween them, and by this means a space of contracted area is obtained,through which the fluid to be cooled or condensed is circulated rapidly,thereby increasing the efficiency of the cooling-surfaces of theexterior tubes and the interior cooling-tubes. The exterior tubes 2 areeither securely expanded or screwed into the bosses l, formed integralon the distributing stand-pipes or headers 5, 5 to form a steam-tightjoint therewith, and the opposite ends of said exterior tubes extendthrough the glands 6 and the stuffing or packing boxes 7 of thereceiving stand-pipes or headers 8 to form yielding or expanding jointsthereat, and thereby permit the free and independent extension orcontraction of the said tubes 2 in said yielding joints. The glands 6are drawn up into their packingboxes 7 by their gland-bolts 9 tocompress the 6; packing-rings 7 preferably of rubber or other suitableelastic substance, therein and around the said tube 2 to form asteam-tight joint, which form of joint permits the tube to freely expandor contract longitudinally.

The water distributing stand pipe or header 10 is provided with thedistributing branch pipes 11, which are connected to and extendoutwardly from the opposite sides thereof and are either bent to a rightangle or provided with suitable elbow-fittings to be connected to theends of the interior coolingtubes 3 by suitable removable couplings orunions 12. Thelatter fittings may be of any of the well-known forms ofunions or coup- 8o lings and need no special description. The interiorcooling-tubes 3 extend from the said couplings through the glands 13 andthe stuffing or packing boxes 11 of the stand-pipes or headers 5 andcentrally through the outer tubes 2, thence through the stand-pipes orreceiving-headers 8, and finally through the stuffing or packing boxes16 and their glands 17, through which they project to a suitable extent.The packing-boxes 16 are of a diameter somewhat larger than that of theexterior diameter of the exterior tubes 2 to permit the latter to bedisconnected from their headers 5 and are moved longitudinally throughsaid packing-boxes andglauds when such removal is necessaryas, forinstance, in such cases as when old or imperfect tubes have to beremoved, and these are to be replaced by new or perfect tubes whichoperation can be readily performed without dis- I00 connecting orbreaking the joints of the adjacent tubes.

In order that the free ends of the interior cooling-tubes 3 may beproperlysupported in the'packing-boxes l6 and the clearancespace betweenthe smaller tube 3 be closed against the packing-ring 18, alsopreferably of rubber, I provide the distance or supporting washers 19,which are drilled to loosely receive the smaller tube 3, and saiddistance-- Washers are of a diameter to permit their free entrance intosaid packing-boxes 16. The distance-washers 19 are first slipped overthe free ends of the cooling-tubes 3 and moved into the packing-boxes16. The packing-rings 18 are next applied, and finally thepacking-glands 17 are drawn into the packing-boxes 16 by theirgland-bolts to expand said elastic packing-rings 18 over saidcooling-tubes 3 to form a yielding steam-tight joint.

The packing-boxes 14 of the stand-pipes or distributing-headers 5 arebored to loosely receive the smaller or cooling tubes 3, andpacking-rings 21, similar to those of 18 and 7, are used, and the glandsl3 loosely fit on said tubes and are drawn into their packing-boxes 14by the gland-bolts 22 in the same manner as previously described. Jachof the projecting ends of the cooling-tubes 3 is provided with stop orregulating valves 23, by means of which the flow or discharge of thecooling or circulating water or fluid may be regulated, and to each ofthe said valves 23 are connected the drip-pipes 24, which have theirdischarge ends directed towardthe d ripspouts 25 of the wastedowntake-pipe 26, by which latter the waste or discharged circulating orcooling fluid is conveyed to a suitable reservoir or other receptacle.

Suitable standards 27, secured to thebases 28 and having suitablecross-bars 29 arranged at intervals apart to contact with the bottomsides of each of the tubes 2, are provided for the purpose of formingintermediate supporting-bearings for said tubes when the latter are longand not capable of supporting their own weight without sagging.

The receiving-headers 8 are provided with suitable bottom drain-necks30, to which may be connected any suitable conveying-pipe 31, by whichthe condensed fluid is conveyed and discharged into a suitablereceptacle to be stored therein, and on the tops of saidreceivingstand-pipes or headers 8 are the vent-openings 32, which areprovided for the purpose of permitting the free escape of the gases andair that accumulate in said headers 8 during the operation of theapparatus.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Circulating water, whichmay be obtained from any available source, is admitted into thewater-distributing pipe or header 10 by means of the water-supply pipe33 and is distributed therefrom through its branch pipes 11 into andthrough the cooling-pipes 3 of each of the tiers simultaneously. The

valves 23 are now open to permit the free flow of the circulating waterthrough them, which amount of flow is controlled and regulated by saidvalves to suit the conditions due to temperature and the requiredcapacity of the apparatus. The steam or other fluid to be cooled orcondensed is conveyed by the pipe 3% and discharged into thedistributing stand-pipe or headers 5, from each of which headers saidfluid is equally distributed and discharged into the tubes 2 and aroundthe cooling-tubes 3, inclosed therein, in which spaces cooling andcondensation of the fluid takes place. The fluid thus condensed orcooled is discharged from said tubes 2 into the receiving-headers orstand-pipes 8, from which the fluid is conveyed by the conveyerpipes 31to a suitable receptacle to be stored therein for future use.

This apparatus may be composed of one, two, or more rows or tiers oftubes connected at their endsin the manner and by the means hereinbeforedescribed; but I prefer to use two rows or tiers of tubes, as shown inthe drawings, in connection with each apparatus, and when necessarytoincrease the capacity of the apparatus add to the lengths of the tubesrather than increasing the number of rows or tiers of tubes.

Having thus fullydescribed myinvention, what- I claim as new and useful,and desire to cover by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is

1. In a surface condenser, the combination with a distributing-header,and areceivingheadcr, of an exterior tube arranged between said headersand connected thereto, an interior cooling-tube passing through saidexterior tube, one of said headers being provided withoppositely-disposed alincd openings into one of which said tubes fit,the other opening being adapted to facilitate removal of said tubes fromthe headers, and means for closing said latter opening,

2. In a surface condenser, the combination with a distributing-header,and a receivingheader, of an exterior tube arranged between said headersand rigidly but removably connected to one of the same, an interiorcoolingtube passing through said exterior tube, the other of saidheaders being provided with oppositely-disposed alined openings into oneof which said tubes fit, the other opening being adapted to facilitateremoval of said tubes from the headers, and means for closing saidlatter opening.

3. In a surface condenser, the combination with a distributing-header,and a receivingheader, of an exterior tube arranged between said headersand connected to one of the same,an interior cooling-tube passingthrough said exterior tube, the other of said headers being providedwith oppositely disposed alined openings into one of which said tubesfit, the other opening being adapted to facilitate removal of said tubesfrom the headers, packing-boxes arranged around said openings, andglands cooperating with said boxes to close the same.

4. I11 a surface condenser, the combination with a distributing-header,and a receivingheader, of an exterior tube arranged between said headersand rigidly but removably connected to one of the same, an interiorcoolingtube passing through said exterior tube, the other of saidheaders being provided with oppositely-disposed alined openings into oneof which said tubes fit, the cooling-tube also passing through the otherof said openings, said latter opening being adapted to facilitateremoval of said tubes from the headers, packing-boxes arranged aroundsaid openings, and glands cooperating with the boxes and tubes to closesaid openings and to form a yielding connection between the tubes andthe header.

5. In a surface condenser, the combination with a distributing-header,and a receivingheader, of an exterior tube arranged between saidheaders, an interior cooling-tube passing through said exterior tube andhaving its ends projecting beyond the headers but yieldingly connectedto the latter to permit expansion and contraction, one of said headersbeing provided'with oppositely-disposed alined openings into one ofwhich said tubes fit, the other opening being adapted to facilitateremoval of said tubes from the headers, and means for closing saidlatter opening.

6. In a surface condenser, the combination with a distributing-headerfor the fluid to be condensed, a receiving-header for such fluid, and atube arranged between said headers, of a distributing-header for thecondensing agent, a cooling-tube removably connected at one end theretoand passing through the first-mentioned distributing-header, thefirstmentioned tube, and the receiving-header, the receiving-headerbeing provided with oppositely-disposed alined openings into one ofwhich said tubes fit, the other opening being adapted to facilitateremoval of said tubes from the headers, and means for closing saidlatter opening.

7. In a surface condenser, the combination with a distributing-headerfor the fluid to be condensed, a receiving-header for such fluid, and atube arranged between said headers, said tube being rigidly butremovably connected to the distributing-header and yieldingly connectedto the receiving-header, of a distributing-header for the condensingagent, a cooling-tube removably connected at one end thereto and passingthrough the firstmentioned header, the first-mentioned tube,

and the receiving-header and yieldingly connected to said headers topermit expansion and contraction, the receiving-header being providedwith oppositely disposed alined openings into one of which said tubesfit, the other opening being adapted to facilitate removal of said tubesfrom the headers, and means for closing said latter opening.

8. In a surface condenser, the combination with a distributing-headerfor the fluid to be condensed, a receiving-header for such fluid, and atube arranged between said headers, said tube being rigidly butremovably connected to the distributing-header and yieldingly connectedto the receiving-header, of a distributing-header for the condensingagent, a cooling-tube removably connected at one end thereto and passingthrough the firstmentioned header, the first-mentioned tube, and thereceiving-header and yieldingly connected to said headers to permitexpansion and contraction, said cooling-tube having a valve forregulating the flow of the condensing agent therethrough, thereceiving-header being provided with oppositely disposed alined openingsinto one of which said tubes fit, the other opening being adapted tofacilitate removal of said tubes from the headers, and means for closingsaid latter opening.

9. In asurface condenser, the combination with a distributing-header forthe fluid to be condensed, a receiving-header for such fluid, and aseries of tubes arranged between said headers, said tubes being rigidlybut removably connected to the distributing-header and yieldinglyconnected to the receiving-header, of a distributing-header for thecondensing agent, a series of cooling-tubes removably connected at oneend thereto and passing through the first-mentioned header, thefirstmentioned tubes, and the receiving-header and yieldingly connectedto said headers to permit expansion and contraction, the receiving 3header being provided with oppositely-disposed alined sets of openingsinto one set of which said tubes fit, the other set of said openingsbeing adapted to facilitate removal of the tubes from the headers, meansfor closing said openings, and a waste-pipe common to all of thecooling-tubes and into which such tubes discharge.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

HARRY A. GALLON. WVitnesses:

THOMPSON R. BELL, WILMER W. CRI'roHLow.

